Bootcamp Microscopy & Lab
Techniques Study Guide – Microscope
Use, Cell Observation & Laboratory
Skills (Complete Review 2026)
_____ adheres cells to microscope slides in their most lifelike state, and it makes
it easier for those cells to be _____
fixation; stained
describe the process of heat fixation
living cells are placed on a slide --> the slide is passed over a flame to kill/"glue" the
cells to the slide --> stain is applied
_____ is the process of adding color to cells, which allows them to be viewed
more easily under microscope
staining
most optical microscopy techniques can be used to view _____ samples of cells
living
how does optical microscopy work?
it involves shining light on a sample that reflects off of it and passes through lenses
that magnify the object
_____ microscopy allows for higher magnification than _____ microscopy
electron, optical
can electron microscopy be used to look at living specimens? why or why not?
no, due to fixation and staining
most viruses are so small that they must be viewed using _____ microscopy.
electron
how does electron microscopy work?
it bombards a sample with electrons that bounce off the sample and pass through
magnetic fields onto a screen. The image produced is viewed indirectly on a computer.
_____ are light microscopes that focus visible light to produce a 2D image of a
sample's surface
stereo-microscopes (dissection microscopes)
what is an advantage of stereo-microscopes (dissection microscopes)?
they are light microscopes that can be used to view living samples
electron microscopy offers _____ (higher/lower) resolution than optical
microscopy because the wavelength of an electron is _____ (larger/smaller) than
that of light
higher; smaller
what is a disadvantage of stereo-microscopes (dissection microscopes)?
they are light microscopes that have a low resolution
_____ are light microscopes that focus visible light to produce a 2D image of thin
samples (single cell layers)
,compound microscopes
compound light microscopes usually have different _____, which gives them the
ability to make more resolute images than a stereo-microscope (dissection light
microscope)
lens magnifications
what is an advantage of compound light microscopes?
they can be used to view 2D images of living samples (1 cell thick)
what are some disadvantages of compound light microscopes?
they only view samples that are 1 cell thick and they have a poor contrast, which means
some samples may need to be fixed & stained (killed)
_____ are optical microscopes that use light phase changes and contrast to
produce 2D image of thin samples
phase-contrast microscopes
what are some advantages of phase-contrast optical microscopes?
good resolution and contrast; can be used to observe thin samples of living cells -
including their internal structures
what are some disadvantages of phase-contrast optical microscopes?
ineffective on thick samples; halo effect around sample edges
what are some strategies to reduce the halo effect of phase-contrast optical
microscopy?
using phase plates to reduce the phase shift; use thinner samples
_____ are fluorescent chemicals that will re-emit light upon being excited by
another light source
fluorophores
_____ is the emission of photons (light) from a particle that has absorbed light
fluorescence
_____ and _____ are optical microscopy techniques that use laser light to
produce 2D images of samples that have been tagged with fluorophores
fluorescence; confocal laser scanning
what are some advantages of fluorescence optical microscopy?
colorful, 2D images of thin samples of living cells; increased brightness
what are some disadvantages of fluorescence optical microscopy?
fluorescence sometimes creates distortions (artifacts) that reduce the resolution
what are some advantages of confocal laser scanning optical microscopy?
colorful, 2D images of thin samples of living cells; view chromosomes during mitosis;
overcomes fluorescence artifacts (higher resolution)
what are some disadvantages of confocal laser scanning optical microscopy?
reduced light intensity and longer illumination times than fluorescence optical
microscopy
in _____, only scattered light from the sample is transmitted to produce 2D
images of unstained, living cells
dark field optical microscopy
what is an advantage of dark field optical microscopy?
excellent contrast on living samples of unstained cells (black background)
what is a disadvantage of dark field optical microscopy?
low light intensity
,in electron microscopy, electrons are shot through a _____ at a sample which has
been fixed and
metal coated (cells are dead)
vacuum
(the vacuum prevents electrons from deviating in path)
_____ captures electrons that are scattered by atoms found on the surface of
dehydrated samples
scanning electron microscopy (SEM)
what is an advantage of SEM?
high resolution, 3D images of sample surfaces
what are some disadvantages of SEM?
it is costly, and the fixation/staining/dehydration kills the sample
_____ is like SEM, but the sample is frozen instead of dehydrated
cryo-scanning electron microscopy (cryo-SEM)
what are some advantages of cryo-SEM?
high resolution, 3D images of sample surfaces, which are presented in a more natural
form than SEM (due to freezing)
what are some disadvantages of cryo-SEM?
it is costly, and the fixation/staining/freezing kills the sample
_____ captures electrons that are transmitted through a thin slice of a sample
transmission electron microscopy (TEM)
what are some advantages of TEM?
high resolution 2D images of internal sample structures
what are some disadvantages of TEM?
it is costly, and the extensive sample preparation kills all living cells
_____ integrates multiple TEM 2D images into a 3D model
electron tomography
(not a form of microscopy)
what are some advantages of electron tomography?
can look at objects and their relative positions in 3D
what are some disadvantages of electron tomography?
it is costly, and the extensive sample preparation kills all living cells
(because it is based on TEM)
is SEM or TEM used to look at surfaces?
SEM
what are hemocytometers?
cell counting chambers
_____ are used to estimate the number of cells plated on a growth medium
colony forming units (CFUs)
colony forming units (CFUs) are based on the assumption that each viable cell
initially plated gave rise to a _____
colony
what are 2 methods for automated cell counting?
, electrical resistance and flow cytometry
as cells show electrical resistance and impede conductance, the _____ in a
solution can be estimated by observing the flow of electricity
number of cells
in _____, cells pass through a very narrow tube and can be counted via detection
by a laser beam.
flow cytometry
_____ is the process where cell contents are separated into their fractions (one
part of a whole) by centrifugation
cell fractionation
a _____ is a laboratory apparatus that spins in a circular path at very high speeds.
centrifuge
centrifugation separates cell components through _____
mass, density, and/or shape
in centrifugation, the densest and most compact particles will _____ to the
bottom of the tube first, becoming pressed together as a _____ (precipitate)
sediment; pellet
(top liquid is the supernatant)
centrifugation can be used to separate _____ based on solubility
proteins
(insoluble proteins pellet out, while the soluble proteins remain in the supernatant)
in _____, cells are split open with a blender and the resulting homogenate is
separated based on mass, density, and/or shape
differential centrifugation
(the homogenate is centrifuged/fractionated)
_____ centrifugation separates cell contents in just 1 spin step, creating multiple
layers separated by density
density
e.g. blood centrifugation
arrange the following organelles from most to least dense: endoplasmic
reticulum (ER), ribosomes, mitochondria, nuclei, chloroplasts
nuclei > mitochondria/chloroplast > ER fragments >
ribosomes
_____ is the observation of chromosomes under a light microscope using
staining
karyotyping
a karyotype shows both the _____ of chromosomes and their _____
number; physical appearance
karyotyping is preformed during _____
metaphase
_____ is a condition that results in a third copy of chromosome 21, and _____
allows for substantiation of its diagnosis
Techniques Study Guide – Microscope
Use, Cell Observation & Laboratory
Skills (Complete Review 2026)
_____ adheres cells to microscope slides in their most lifelike state, and it makes
it easier for those cells to be _____
fixation; stained
describe the process of heat fixation
living cells are placed on a slide --> the slide is passed over a flame to kill/"glue" the
cells to the slide --> stain is applied
_____ is the process of adding color to cells, which allows them to be viewed
more easily under microscope
staining
most optical microscopy techniques can be used to view _____ samples of cells
living
how does optical microscopy work?
it involves shining light on a sample that reflects off of it and passes through lenses
that magnify the object
_____ microscopy allows for higher magnification than _____ microscopy
electron, optical
can electron microscopy be used to look at living specimens? why or why not?
no, due to fixation and staining
most viruses are so small that they must be viewed using _____ microscopy.
electron
how does electron microscopy work?
it bombards a sample with electrons that bounce off the sample and pass through
magnetic fields onto a screen. The image produced is viewed indirectly on a computer.
_____ are light microscopes that focus visible light to produce a 2D image of a
sample's surface
stereo-microscopes (dissection microscopes)
what is an advantage of stereo-microscopes (dissection microscopes)?
they are light microscopes that can be used to view living samples
electron microscopy offers _____ (higher/lower) resolution than optical
microscopy because the wavelength of an electron is _____ (larger/smaller) than
that of light
higher; smaller
what is a disadvantage of stereo-microscopes (dissection microscopes)?
they are light microscopes that have a low resolution
_____ are light microscopes that focus visible light to produce a 2D image of thin
samples (single cell layers)
,compound microscopes
compound light microscopes usually have different _____, which gives them the
ability to make more resolute images than a stereo-microscope (dissection light
microscope)
lens magnifications
what is an advantage of compound light microscopes?
they can be used to view 2D images of living samples (1 cell thick)
what are some disadvantages of compound light microscopes?
they only view samples that are 1 cell thick and they have a poor contrast, which means
some samples may need to be fixed & stained (killed)
_____ are optical microscopes that use light phase changes and contrast to
produce 2D image of thin samples
phase-contrast microscopes
what are some advantages of phase-contrast optical microscopes?
good resolution and contrast; can be used to observe thin samples of living cells -
including their internal structures
what are some disadvantages of phase-contrast optical microscopes?
ineffective on thick samples; halo effect around sample edges
what are some strategies to reduce the halo effect of phase-contrast optical
microscopy?
using phase plates to reduce the phase shift; use thinner samples
_____ are fluorescent chemicals that will re-emit light upon being excited by
another light source
fluorophores
_____ is the emission of photons (light) from a particle that has absorbed light
fluorescence
_____ and _____ are optical microscopy techniques that use laser light to
produce 2D images of samples that have been tagged with fluorophores
fluorescence; confocal laser scanning
what are some advantages of fluorescence optical microscopy?
colorful, 2D images of thin samples of living cells; increased brightness
what are some disadvantages of fluorescence optical microscopy?
fluorescence sometimes creates distortions (artifacts) that reduce the resolution
what are some advantages of confocal laser scanning optical microscopy?
colorful, 2D images of thin samples of living cells; view chromosomes during mitosis;
overcomes fluorescence artifacts (higher resolution)
what are some disadvantages of confocal laser scanning optical microscopy?
reduced light intensity and longer illumination times than fluorescence optical
microscopy
in _____, only scattered light from the sample is transmitted to produce 2D
images of unstained, living cells
dark field optical microscopy
what is an advantage of dark field optical microscopy?
excellent contrast on living samples of unstained cells (black background)
what is a disadvantage of dark field optical microscopy?
low light intensity
,in electron microscopy, electrons are shot through a _____ at a sample which has
been fixed and
metal coated (cells are dead)
vacuum
(the vacuum prevents electrons from deviating in path)
_____ captures electrons that are scattered by atoms found on the surface of
dehydrated samples
scanning electron microscopy (SEM)
what is an advantage of SEM?
high resolution, 3D images of sample surfaces
what are some disadvantages of SEM?
it is costly, and the fixation/staining/dehydration kills the sample
_____ is like SEM, but the sample is frozen instead of dehydrated
cryo-scanning electron microscopy (cryo-SEM)
what are some advantages of cryo-SEM?
high resolution, 3D images of sample surfaces, which are presented in a more natural
form than SEM (due to freezing)
what are some disadvantages of cryo-SEM?
it is costly, and the fixation/staining/freezing kills the sample
_____ captures electrons that are transmitted through a thin slice of a sample
transmission electron microscopy (TEM)
what are some advantages of TEM?
high resolution 2D images of internal sample structures
what are some disadvantages of TEM?
it is costly, and the extensive sample preparation kills all living cells
_____ integrates multiple TEM 2D images into a 3D model
electron tomography
(not a form of microscopy)
what are some advantages of electron tomography?
can look at objects and their relative positions in 3D
what are some disadvantages of electron tomography?
it is costly, and the extensive sample preparation kills all living cells
(because it is based on TEM)
is SEM or TEM used to look at surfaces?
SEM
what are hemocytometers?
cell counting chambers
_____ are used to estimate the number of cells plated on a growth medium
colony forming units (CFUs)
colony forming units (CFUs) are based on the assumption that each viable cell
initially plated gave rise to a _____
colony
what are 2 methods for automated cell counting?
, electrical resistance and flow cytometry
as cells show electrical resistance and impede conductance, the _____ in a
solution can be estimated by observing the flow of electricity
number of cells
in _____, cells pass through a very narrow tube and can be counted via detection
by a laser beam.
flow cytometry
_____ is the process where cell contents are separated into their fractions (one
part of a whole) by centrifugation
cell fractionation
a _____ is a laboratory apparatus that spins in a circular path at very high speeds.
centrifuge
centrifugation separates cell components through _____
mass, density, and/or shape
in centrifugation, the densest and most compact particles will _____ to the
bottom of the tube first, becoming pressed together as a _____ (precipitate)
sediment; pellet
(top liquid is the supernatant)
centrifugation can be used to separate _____ based on solubility
proteins
(insoluble proteins pellet out, while the soluble proteins remain in the supernatant)
in _____, cells are split open with a blender and the resulting homogenate is
separated based on mass, density, and/or shape
differential centrifugation
(the homogenate is centrifuged/fractionated)
_____ centrifugation separates cell contents in just 1 spin step, creating multiple
layers separated by density
density
e.g. blood centrifugation
arrange the following organelles from most to least dense: endoplasmic
reticulum (ER), ribosomes, mitochondria, nuclei, chloroplasts
nuclei > mitochondria/chloroplast > ER fragments >
ribosomes
_____ is the observation of chromosomes under a light microscope using
staining
karyotyping
a karyotype shows both the _____ of chromosomes and their _____
number; physical appearance
karyotyping is preformed during _____
metaphase
_____ is a condition that results in a third copy of chromosome 21, and _____
allows for substantiation of its diagnosis
